Dundee United 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Gauld Liveliest in a Very Ordinary Attack
By NORMAN MACDONALD

THANKS to a mistake by Berrie, the Dundee United right back, Aberdeen will start the second game in the Dewar Shield semi-final at Pittodrie next Monday with a 2-1 lead.

Twenty minutes from the finish of yesterday's game at Tannadice, Berrie, in attempting to clear a low cross from Gauld, ran the ball past his own goalkeeper.
The football was mediocre. Neither team succeeded in mastering the wind. The United had more scoring chances than the Dons, but failed to turn them to account. Aberdeen were a bit lucky to win.
Bright spots from the Pittodrie point of view were the sound goalkeeping of Freddie Martin and the promising form of Tony McKeown at right back.
But for smart work on the part of Martin the Dundee team would have scored more than one goal in the second half. He had several splendid saves.
Against the wind in the opening period McKeown's kicking was first-class. The Irishman shared the defensive honours with Martin and McKenzie. The centre half was the mainstay of the rear division.
Pacione was handicapped by a leg injury sustained shortly before the interval. Bruce, who was playing his third game since his cartilage operation in December, seemed bit short of pace, but he made intelligent use of the ball.
The Aberdeen attack was a very ordinary affair. Particularly disappointing were Baird and Pearson on the left wing. They failed to weld into an effective striking force.

Turn of Speed

The liveliest raider was Gauld on the right. He has a fine turn of speed, but he could be more incisive at close quarters.
Although Muir tried hard, he had little success against Ross, and Rodger was not as prominent as against Hearts. The Dons took the lead after an hour's play, when Gauld scored from a lob from Muir. Five minutes later Shaw, the United outside left, who had slipped into the middle, equalised after Martin palmed out a shot from Quinn.
In seventy minutes, rather against the run of play, a mix-up in the home penalty area ended in Berrie netting Gauld's cross when harassed by Muir.

Source: Press & Journal, 11th April 1950